Horse hay-fork



(Nd Model.) 2 Shee1;s-Sheet 1. F. E. 'KOHLER.

HORSE HAY FORK.

Patented May 19, 1885.

(No Model. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. E. KOHLER. HORSE HAY FORK.

Patented May 19, 1885.

UNI ED- S E PATENT- OFFicE.

FREDERIOKE. KOHLER, or C NTON, OHIO.

HoRssHAY-FoRKQf' SPECIFICATION forming part a Letters Patent No. 319,375, dated May 19, 1 85.

Application filed June 19, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:-

-Be it known that I, FREDERICK E. K011.- LER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse Hay-Forks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawings.

Figurel is'a side elevation of ahay-fork containing my invention, one wall of the casing or boxing having been removed upon the line X X, Fig. '3, the suspending-loop'having been also removed, the parts being in position forlifting hay. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in position for either thrustjing the fork into the hay or withdrawing it therefrom. Fig. 3 is an edge view, looking in the direction indicated by arrow 1, 'Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view. Fig et is a horizontal section on line 3 y, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modification, with one side of the casing or boxing removed, on line w w,

Fig. 8, and with the lifting-bail removed, the tines and other parts being in position'for lifting the hay. Fig. 7 -is'a similar view with the parts in position for being thrust into or withdrawn from the hay. Fig. 8 is an edge view, looking in the direction indicated by arrow 2, Fig; 6; Fig. 9 is a transverse section on line a: m, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a transverse section on line a a, Fig. 8.

This invention relates to that class of horse hay-forks which are commonly known as harpoon forks; and it consists in certain details of construction, as-will be hereinafter fully explained. v Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, in elusive, A All to represent the. flat sides and edges of the casing or boxing, upon and within which the operative parts of the mechan- 1 ism are supported. Each of these sides A A consists of a flat thin sheet of metal of suitindicated-at a a, there beingby preference a transverse cut made at the upper end of this turned-over portion, so as to leave the parts a? a projecting in the same plane with the sides A A, for apurpose which will be explained.

The lower ends of the turned over parts a a are also by preference cut off squarely, as at V a a, thus leaving throat-s between these lower ends and thepoint or spear end B, to which the sides arefirmly welded, and, when desired, this point may be" made of steel.

0 is the bail, pivoted to the upper ends of the sides AA, as at 0, Figs. 1, 2,

D E is a bent lever, pivoted upon the bailpivot c, the upper end, D, terminating in a ring oreye adapted to receive the unlocking rope or cord. The lower eudof the lever is pivoted at etc a downwardly-projecting lin k,F,

which in turn fispivoted at f to a sliding bar, G, which fits loosely within. the casing or boxing. This sliding bar is'slotted, as at g, to receive a pin or rivet, b, which servesto support the sideslof the boxing and prevent them from unduly sprea'dingapart.

H H are the tines, each pivoted at its heel end to the lower end of the bar G, as at h, the

lower end of the bar bein'gof reduced thickness, as indicated at 9', Fig. .3, so that it may readily enter between the heelendsof the tines. Y

'By an examination of, the drawings, particularly'Figs'. l and 2, it will be seen that at} ter the fork has'been thrust a-sufficient disthe part E of the lever rests against the. upper j end of the adjacent inner face f the. edge boxing at d, sothat this'edgeiof. the boxing will prevent, the 'ends, of the lever and link, which are united by the piv'otie, from moving anyv farthe'r in the direction indicated by the arrow '1. After thefhay. which issuspended upon the fork has been .moved totheproper place, the, attendant v canp'ull upon the cord and unlock the bent lever and linkF, thus. permitting, these parts to be moved into the position shown Fig; 2, by which operation the boxing at Z Z.

the tines will be withdrawn within the casing, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the fork can be readily removed from the hay, as will be understood by those who are familiar with this class of implements.

h is a small flat spring attached tothe lower part of the casing and adapted tobear against the outer edge of the tine H. This spring I have found very desirable, as it keeps the tine from vibrating and extending its point after it has been withdrawn within the casing, and the fork is ready to be thrust into the hay. It will of course be understood that each tine is provided with one of these springs h.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, the sides A, point B, the bail O, the bentlever D E, link-F, and tines H H are of substantially the same construction as the corresponding parts in the other figures; but the sides of the boxing or casing. are united to each other at their upper ends by means'of interposed ribs or edge pieces, J J.

K is a short sliding bar, pivoted at f to the link F, and having its lower end, which is of reduced thickness, as at k, Fig. 3, connected to the tines H H by links L L, which are pivoted to the sliding bar, and also to the tines at l l, the tines being pivoted to the sides of b is a rivet connecting the lower ends of the sides to each other. construction the tines are locked in horizontal position by reason of the engagement of the lower end of the bent lever with one of the edge pieces J at d, Fig. 6, when the pivot e is upon that side of a line intersecting the center of the pivots 0 f in substantially the same manner as the locking of the tines is effected in Fig. 1.

Of course the unlocking can be effected by pulling in a downward direction upon the outer end of the bent lever.

Although in both constructions Ihave shown the lower end of the bent lever as engaging with and locking against the edge of the boxing, it is apparent that the edge need not be extended up so far as is shown, because, even though it stopped below the pivot e, so as to engage with the upper part of the link F, instead of the lower end of the lever, the opera tion would be substantially the same so far as the locking operation is concerned.

In both constructions shown the tines are pivoted at their inner or heel ends to the sliding bars or links, and are thrust outward or extended when the heel ends of the tines are forced downward, by reason of the tines engaging with their inclosing-casing at points between their connection with the sliding bar and their outer ends. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 the fulcra upon which the tines turn, and which cause them to be B, which are somewhat rounded to facilitate this movement, while in the other construction the fulcra consist of the pivots Z Z, in

both cases the result being the same. This In thisv construction of parts enables me to arrange the parts compactly, and makes a fork which is small in cross-section and can be easily thrust into the hay. The method of locking the tines in an extended position hereinbefore described is particularly applicable to a fork having the tines attached as just described.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper edges of the sides at a a are of increased width,

and therefore form a wide bearing and support for the sides of the bent lever, and thus materially relieve the pivot c of strain.

While I prefer to make the sides of either wrought iron or steel, I do not wish to be limited to the use of either of these materials, because they may under some circumstances be advantageously made of malleable iron.

The bent lever is pivoted between the sides A A of the boxing, near its upper end, the edges of the boxing being cut awayor left open at this end to allow free movement of the working parts. The front wall or edge is opena proper distance to permit the end E of the bent lever and the link F'to be thrust through it, while the other or rear wall or edge is carried up somewhat higher to receive the thrust of the end E of the lever, and yet allow the arm D to swing into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 7.

What I claim is e p p 1. In a horse hay-fork, the combination of the boxing formed of the sides A A and the edges (1 a, the tines, the sliding bar, the bent lever, and a link connecting the sliding bar and the bent lever, the lower end of the bent lever being adapted to rest against the inner face of the boxing at d to lock the tines in an extended position, substantially as set forth.

2. In a horse hay-fork, a boxing or casing consisting of the sides having their edges bent toward each other to form the edges of the casing, substantially as set forth.

3. In a horse hay-fork, the combination of the sliding bar, the link F, the bent lever D E, and the boxing in which said parts are mounted, it consisting of the'sides A A, between which the bent lever is pivoted, and the edges cut away or left open at their upper ends to permit the movements of the lever D E, the rear edge being carried up higher than the front edge to receive the thrust of the lower end of the lever and lock the tines in their extended position, substantially as set forth.

4. In a horse hay-fork, the combination, with the casing, of the bent lever, the link F, the sliding bar, and the tines pivoted to the sliding bar near their rear ends, and adapted tobe thrust outward when the sliding bar descends by engagement with the upper corners of the spear-head B, substantially as set' such as described, for operating the tines, andsprings adapted to bear against the tines when drawn within the casing to prevent them from vibrating or becoming accidentally extended,

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in substantially as set forth. presence of two witnesses.

6. In a horse hay-fork, the combination of the casing, the sliding bar, the link F, the

5 bent lever, the tines pivoted to the sliding bar, and springs h, supported upon the casing and adapted to bear against the tines to prevent them from vibrating, substantiallyas setforth.

FREDERICK E. KOHLER.

Witnesses:

ANTHONY FAGER, O. F. PERKINS. 

